You could have a section where people tell us about their bike, good points, bad points and attach a photo. I wouldn't want this to turn into a mine is better than yours but just a gallery where we can see and appreciate each others bike.
I don't care if you ride a Honda CG125 or a Hyabusa, I appreciate all bikes.

hi folks ,new to the site we live in w/yorks and have been riding a pan european for 9 years ,we like to tour abroad as much as we can .just found a biker hotel down in the pyrenees so we are going to try that at the end of july .
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v334/thehondas/DSCF0370.jpg[/img]

sorry tim trip canceled for this year . we had thunder storms on monday and was flooded out ,37 inch of water through out the house only just got the telephone lines back on and a new laptop ,we lost both cars but the bike is ok i keep telling the wife we NEED to go away to france for a couple of weeks just to let the house dry out

[quote="brendanm"]You could have a section where people tell us about their bike, good points, bad points and attach a photo.

I presently own 4 BMW GSes of different vintages as well as a Kawasaki KLR 650.

This 1990 BMW R100GS was bought new. It was my first BMW and also my first GS. The simplicity of the airheads make this model one of the best of the GS line as far as I'm concerned. It has great range and comfort. It is now properly stored for future enjoyment while I drive my GS Adventures.[img]http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace/BMW%20R100%20GS.jpg[/img]

My 1986 BMW R80 G/S Paris Dakar was bought used some years ago and will undergo a complete professional restoration which I'll get around to one day. It is nimble and has fantastic range.[img]http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace/BMW%20R80%20GS%20PD.jpg[/img]

When BMW finally came out with the "2 Spark" in 2003, I knew it would solve the surging issues that has plagued the "oilheads" since they first came out, so I decided to give one of those "high tech wonders" a try. I bought this 2003 BMW R1150 GS Adventure new.[img]http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace/BMW%20R1150%20GS%20Adventure%20-%202003.jpg[/img]

After years of searching for another R100 GS or R100 GS PD in good shape, I finally gave up. I couldn't pass up a great deal on this new 2004 R1150 GS Adventure. This purchase was to replace an older 1980 R65 that I used for my Euro tours.[img]http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace/BMW%20R1150%20GS%20Adventure%20-%202004.jpg[/img]

To summarize: the GS line-up can't be beat for long distance comfort and fuel range without getting into a Winnebago of a motorcycle. Other than the Valeo starter on my 1990 BMW R100 GS, they have all been trouble free since my first BMW purchase in 1991.

My 2002 Kawasaki KLR 650 was purchased for tours into more remote areas. There are far better bikes out there in its class, but they don't have the simplicity, range and relative comfort of the KLR.[img]http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace/0351.jpg[/img]

[quote="brendanm"]I wouldn't want this to turn into a mine is better than yours.

But my bikes are better.

All the best,
Alex

[url=http://edelweiss.smugmug.com]Alps Tours and more on SmugMug[/url]

This bike has never missed a beat, but I would like something with a tad more character. (And also more of a toy when I'm on my own).
Going to take a serious look at the new kwak GTR when it comes out.
I've even got the green light from her indoors .. yee haaar.

How are you finding the 650L? I shortlisted one as a replacement for my XR600 which came back from my last trans sahara trip needing a lot of work.
The 650's are pretty thin on the ground in the UK though - I don't think Honda ever imported them officially. What did for me though was reports that the seat is even higher than the 600 and at 5' 9" I was never going to be able to be comfortable on it

[quote="alpinebiker"]How are you finding the 650L? I shortlisted one as a replacement for my XR600 which came back from my last trans sahara trip needing a lot of work. The 650's are pretty thin on the ground in the UK though - I don't think Honda ever imported them officially. What did for me though was reports that the seat is even higher than the 600 and at 5' 9" I was never going to be able to be comfortable on it

the seat is really high, and I'm 6'2"!
the guy I bought it off of had a lowering link in it: [url]http://www.xrsonly.com/content/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=241&category_id=149&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=77[/url]
I could easily flat-foot the bike with it in, but I took it out when I swapped out tires. So far I love the big XR, it's pretty basic & seems bomb-proof.

Sounds like I made the right decision. I had visions of being able to get my feet down with the suspension compressed after braking and then losing it as it came back.
Many years ago I was behind a friend on a Gold Wing when he did just that on alpine pass - panic stopped behind traffic on the inside of a bend where the road dropped away sharply. Got his foot down till the springs came back. The bike turned over at least twice

Pity about the 650 though. Most of my tried and tested desert stuff - big tank, luggage etc would have gone straight across. With the CCM everything has to be custom made.